Ratchetlike wrench

ABSTRACT

A ratchetlike tool in which there are three operable positions. The tool functions by means of rollers which become wedged or cammed between a retaining means and a hub to force a bearing surface of the hub into frictional engagement with a stationary portion of the wrench. The retaining means include a plurality of pairs of intersecting inclined surfaces upon which are positioned the rollers and a spring means to separate the rollers. A separator cooperating with the pairs of rollers is adaptable to move the rollers along the inclined planes to cause the camming relationship. When the separator is in its middle position, the hub does not move in either direction and movement of the separator into either of its other two positions frees one of the rollers from its cammed position to permit rotation in the opposite direction.

States tent [54] RATCHIETLIKE WRENCH Herman A. Myers, R.D.#l, Box 125, Lake Lynn, Pa. 15451 22 Filed: Dec.4,1970

211 App1.No.: 95,148

[72] inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,821 4/1915 Loomis Feb. 8, 1972 ABSTRACT A ratchetlike tool in which there are three operable positions. The tool functions by means of rollers which become wedged or cammed between a retaining means and a hub to force a bearing surface of the hub into frictional engagement with a stationary portion of the wrench. The retaining means include a plurality of pairs of intersecting inclined surfaces upon which are positioned the rollers and a spring means to separate the rollers. A separator cooperating with the pairs of rollers is adaptable to move the rollers along the inclined planes to cause the camming relationship. When the separator is in its middle position, the hub does not move in either direction and movement of the separator into either of its other two positions frees one of the rollers from its carnmed position to permit rotation in the opposite direction.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 2,139,650 12/1938 AndetSoneLaL. 8l/59.1 1,152,075 8/1915 Buschmann ...192/44 3,243,023 3/1966 Boyden ..l92/44 r" L.li LJ 11, l "r r--\\\ 11" iii" f? i i," l i i Ii 32 i-/ Les PATENTED FEB 8 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 RATCHETLIKE WRENCH This invention relates to a wrench and, more particularly, to a ratchetlike wrench which eliminates the customary pawl and gear tooth arrangement.

The standard type of ratchet wrench includes a pawl and ratchet wheel or gear, both of which have teethfor engagement with the pawl. Such a wrench is operable in both'the clockwise and counterclockwise direction, but not both directions from a single adjustment. The change from one direction to the other direction requires a certain slack time to permit the pawl to slide over its engaged tooth and reengage a new tooth for opposite directional movement.

My invention, in addition to providing the normaltwo positions, has a central position in which the wrench acts as a box end wrench and can be operated in either direction without adjustment. This is useful, for example, where a rusty bolt is to be loosened and requires jostling in both directions. Further, my invention eliminates the slack time needed for. a direction change and all direction changes are spontaneous with the subject to wear and replaced them with a mechanism subject to minimum wear and which is simple of design.

My invention is a ratchetlike wrench in which the bearing surface of a hub terminating in a socket holder frictionally engages a stationary portion of the wrench head to restrain movement thereof in either a clockwise, counterclockwise or clockwise and counterclockwise motion. The bearing surface is moved into frictional engagement through the interaction of rollers moved along inclined planes in a specified manner dependent upon the positioning of a separator assembly which cooperates with the rollers and with'biasing means positioned between the rollers.

In' the accompanying drawings, I have shown my presently preferred embodiments of my invention in which:

FIG. I is in plan view of my wrench;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along lines IIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3is an exploded view of the wrench;

FIG. 4 is a blown up partial view of the wrench head showing the rollers and the springs;

FIG. 5 is a blown up view showing one pair of rollers in the centralposition;

FIG. 6 is a blown up view showing one set of rollers positioned for counterclockwisemovement;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another means of constructing my wrench; and' FIG. 8 is a section taken along lines VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

My wrench, generally designated 10, includes a handle 11 which terminates in a body portion 12, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The handle 11 will normally be slightly knurled to improve gripping. The body portion 12, which is basically circular in shape, has an open ended chamber 13 recessedtherein. The chamber 13 is also circular.

The bottom or closed end of chamber 13 comprises four pairs of inclined surfaces. Each pair includes surfaces -14 and I5 intersecting alongline 16. The surfaces 14 and 15slope obtusely outward from line 16 and each surface has the same inclination from a horizontal plane through the line of'intersection. Each pair of intersecting surfaces connect to twoadjacent pairs of intersecting surfaces through a flat surface 17, see FIG. 3. The pairs of inclined surfaces are equally spaced from one another so that the respective intersecting lines 16 are spaced every 90 about the periphery of the cylindrical chamber 13.

Pairs of rollers are positioned on the pairs of inclined surfaces such that each inclinedsurface 14 has a roller l8positioned thereon and each inclined surface 15 has a roller 19 positioned thereon. Rollers 18 and 19 are separatedby a Z- shaped flat spring 20, which urges the rollers apart, see FIG. 4.

A separator plate 21 having four equally spaced notched recesses 22 along the periphery thereof is positioned in cooperation with the pairs of rollers. The recesses 22 are spaced and dimensioned so thateach recess justcontains a pair of rollers 18 and I9 and the Z'spring20- positioned therebetween. The separator 21 has a short supporting rod 23 depending downwardly from the center thereof which mates with recess 24 in the bottom of chamber 13. Threadably engaged to a threadedopening in the connecting rod 23 is a selector 25 which extends outwardly through an opening 26 in the body member 12. The selector 25 which also extends along the body portion is retained in the desired position by means of two detents 27 positioned on the outer body portion of the ratchet.

A-huba28, which is cylindrical in shape, ispositioned within chamber 13 in cooperation with certain or all of the rollers 18 and 19 aswill be described hereinafter. Hub 28, terminates in a neck section 29-which extends outwardly from a cylindrical intermediatesection 30. The neck section 29' is square-shaped and has a detent ball 32 along one surface to accommodate a socket thereon in the known manner. The upper surface 37 of the hub section 28. acts as thebearing surface to fiictionally engage the hubto closure plate 33 and prevent or permit rotation thereof depending upon the positioning of the selector 25. Theclosure plate 33 threadably engages with a threaded portion 35 of the upper walls of chamber 13. The closure plate 33 has a-central opening 34 which is positioned over intermediate section 30. Tool engaging openings 36 are recessed into the top of closure plate 33 to permit the proper tightening thereof.

' The operation of my ratchetlike wrench is as follows. When the selectorv 25 is in its central position, the separator 21 is centrally positioned with regard to the inclined surfaces 18 and 19 so that the Z springs 20 urge the rollers 18 and 19 alongthe inclined surfaces and into engagement with the bottom surface of hub 28. This in turn forces the hub 28 upward so that'the bearing surface 37 of the hub 28 frictionally engages the bottom'of closure plate 33 to prevent rotation of the hub in either direction. In this central position, the rollers 18 and19xaresnugly wedged or cammed in place'so that they can travel along'the inclined surfaces no further and there can, therefore, be absoluteiy no movement of the hub.

When the selector 25.is moved counterclockwise, separator 21 forces one of the rollers 18 of each pair of rollers along the inclined surface 14 toward the intersection 16 thereby removing roller 14 from its cammed position and permitting rotation of the hub in a direction toward 14 or in a clockwise rotation, see FIG. 6. Moving the selector 25 in a clockwise direction to its third position causes the reverse effect, namely, freeing the other of the pair of rollers 19 by moving it toward the intersecting line 16 and thus permitting rotation of the hub in a direction toward roller 19 or in a counterclockwise direction.

The rollers 18 and 19, the inclined surfaces 14 and 15 and the recesses 24 in the separator 21 are dimensioned so that there is very little play between moving parts; Therefore, only a'very small movement is required to disengage one of the rollers from its cammed position and permit rotation of the hub in adirection toward the freed roller.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, I have shown another manner in which my ratchetlike wrench can be constructed. employing the same general principles of the earlier embodiment. Parts similar to those shown in the earlier embodiment are identically numberedwith the number being followed by a prime.

The wrench 10 has a handle 11 terminating in a rounded body portion 12'. Body portion 12' hasa chamber 13' which is open ended and cylindrically formed but which has a flat, closed bottom surface. The hub 28' has a bottom flange 40 which fits into the chamber 13' and which is adaptable to frictionally engage the bottom surface of chamber 13', as will be described hereinafter. The hub 28' has an outwardly extendingneck-portion 29 which contains a detent ball 32' for contactinga socket in'the known manner. The pairs of intersecting, inclined surfaces 47 and 48 are fonned in a retainer 41 which fits into chamber 13'. The surfaces 47 and 48, in addition to'being inclined as in the earlier embodiment, are also sloped toward the central axis of the retainer. Three pairs of rollers are employed in-this embodiment, see FIG. 7. These rollers 44 and'45 which form each pair are tapered to correspond with the slope of the inclined surfaces 47 and 48, respectively, of retainer 41, see FEG. 8.

The separator 42 from which selector 25' depends is annular shaped and is positioned over the hub 28. Ribs 43 extend outwardly from the annular separator 42 between each pair of rollers 44 and 45. Small coil springs 46 extend between the ribs 43 and each of the rollers of the pair. The springs are dimensioned to contact and urge the rollers outward from the rib 43 when the separator 42 is in its central position, but to disengage one of the rollers of each pair when the separator is moved in either its second or third position.

A closure plate 33' threadably engages with threads 35 of the chamber 13' to close off and maintain the unit in assembled relationship. The operation of this embodiment in principle is essentially the same as the earlier embodiment except that in a central position of the selector 25', the sloped rollers 44 and 45 are cammed between the inclined and sloped intersecting surfaces 47 and 48, respectively, or retainer 41 and the top surface of the flange 37 of hub 28 to force the bottom or bearing surface 49 of hub 28' into frictional engagement with the bottom, flat surface of the chamber 13. Movement of the selector 25' into the second or third position urges the rib 43 toward either roller 44 or roller 45 of each pair to compress coil spring 46 and to free the other of the rollers of the pair to thus permit rotation in the direction of the freed roller.

1 claim:

1. A ratchetlike wrench comprising:

A. A handle terminating in a body having an open and closed ended cylindrical chamber therein;

B. Retaining means positioned within said chamber, said retaining means including a plurality of pairs of intersecting inclined surfaces, each pair of surfaces intersecting along a line so that the surfaces incline obtusely outward therefrom;

C. Pairs of rollers and biasing means, each pair of intersecting inclined surfaces having a pair of rollers positioned thereon, said rollers of each pair urged apart by said biasing means;

D. A hub positioned in the chamber and having a bottom bearing surface and an outwardly depending neck section adapted to accommodate a socket;

E. Closure means cooperating with the chamber to close the open end thereof; and

F. A separator cooperating with the pairs of rollers and movable into any of three positions, a central position camming both rollers of each pair between the inclined surfaces and the hub to frictionally engage the bearing surface of the hub and prevent rotation thereof, a second position causing the first roller of each pair to move toward the line of intersection to permit rotation of the hub in the direction of the first roller and a third position causing the second roller of each pair to move toward the line of intersection to permit rotation of the hub in the direction of the second roller.

2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein there are four equally spaced pairs of intersecting inclined surfaces, each of said pairs connecting with each adjacent pair through a flat surface.

3. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the separator is a circular plate having a plurality of spaced recesses along the periphery thereof, each recess positioned about a pair of rollers so that movement of the separator into its second or third position causes a surface of the recess to contact one of the rollers to urge it toward said line of intersection and compress said biasing means, said bearing surface frictionally engaging said closure means.

4. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the separator is annular shaped and includes a plurality of ribs, each rib extending outward between the rolls of a pair and cooperating with the biasing means so that movement of the separator into its second and third positions frees one of the rollers of each pair from its cammed relationship, the inclined surfaces of the retainer being sloped and the rollers being correspondingly taped to cam between the retainer and the hub and cause the bearing surface thereof to frictionally engage the closed end of said chamber.

5. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the closure means is a cylindrical plate which threadably engages with the inner surface of said chamber.

6. The wrench of claim 1 wherein said separator includes a selector extending outwardly from the chamber and along an outer surface of said body, said selector retained in a particular position by means of spaced detents along the outer surface of said body.

7. The wrench of claim 3 wherein said biasing means is a Z- shaped flat spring.

8. The wrench of claim 4 wherein the biasing means includes a coil spring extending between each rib and each adjacent roll.

9. The wrench of claim 4 wherein there are three pairs of intersecting inclined and sloped surfaces.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 640, 158 Dated Februag 8, 1972 InventorQQ Herman A. Myers It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3 Line 16 --or-- should rea.d -'of Claim 4 Column 4 Line 26 --ta.p'ec I-- should read --ta.pered--.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June 1972;

(SEAL) 'Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'I'SCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A ratchetlike wrench comprising: A. A handle terminating in a body having an open and closed ended cylindrical chamber therein; B. Retaining means positioned within said chamber, said retaining means including a plurality of pairs of intersecting inclined surfaces, each pair of surfaces intersecting along a line so that the surfaces incline obtusely outward therefrom; C. Pairs of rollers and biasing means, each pair of intersecting inclined surfaces having a pair of rollers positioned thereon, said rollers of each pair urged apart by said biasing means; D. A hub positioned in the chamber and havIng a bottom bearing surface and an outwardly depending neck section adapted to accommodate a socket; E. Closure means cooperating with the chamber to close the open end thereof; and F. A separator cooperating with the pairs of rollers and movable into any of three positions, a central position camming both rollers of each pair between the inclined surfaces and the hub to frictionally engage the bearing surface of the hub and prevent rotation thereof, a second position causing the first roller of each pair to move toward the line of intersection to permit rotation of the hub in the direction of the first roller and a third position causing the second roller of each pair to move toward the line of intersection to permit rotation of the hub in the direction of the second roller.
 2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein there are four equally spaced pairs of intersecting inclined surfaces, each of said pairs connecting with each adjacent pair through a flat surface.
 3. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the separator is a circular plate having a plurality of spaced recesses along the periphery thereof, each recess positioned about a pair of rollers so that movement of the separator into its second or third position causes a surface of the recess to contact one of the rollers to urge it toward said line of intersection and compress said biasing means, said bearing surface frictionally engaging said closure means.
 4. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the separator is annular shaped and includes a plurality of ribs, each rib extending outward between the rolls of a pair and cooperating with the biasing means so that movement of the separator into its second and third positions frees one of the rollers of each pair from its cammed relationship, the inclined surfaces of the retainer being sloped and the rollers being correspondingly tapered to cam between the retainer and the hub and cause the bearing surface thereof to frictionally engage the closed end of said chamber.
 5. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the closure means is a cylindrical plate which threadably engages with the inner surface of said chamber.
 6. The wrench of claim 1 wherein said separator includes a selector extending outwardly from the chamber and along an outer surface of said body, said selector retained in a particular position by means of spaced detents along the outer surface of said body.
 7. The wrench of claim 3 wherein said biasing means is a Z-shaped flat spring.
 8. The wrench of claim 4 wherein the biasing means includes a coil spring extending between each rib and each adjacent roll.
 9. The wrench of claim 4 wherein there are three pairs of intersecting inclined and sloped surfaces. 